Had the day off from my day job, but still had to go teach my night class - got a lot of much-needed errands run today, and taught a pretty good session on the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention this evening. The war on ignorance is progressing nicely!

An Irishman walked into a pub in Galway and ordered three pints, then started drinking them one by one.

"You know," said the publican, "if you'd order those one at a time they wouldn't go flat as fast."

"I order three at once because I have a brother who emigrated to America, and another who emigrated to New Zealand, and we all sit every Saturday night in our own corners of the world and have three drinks to remember each other in spirit."

The publican agreed it was a fine sentimental custom, and said nothing else about it each Saturday when the man appeared. One night, however, the Irishman walked in and ordered just two beers.

"I'm sorry for your loss," said the publican, pointing down where the bar was one beer short. "Who was it, the brother in America or the one in New Zealand?"

"Oh, no, they're both fine," said the Irishman, "it's just last night my wife made me swear off drinking. My brothers, though," he said as he gulped one of the two beers, "haven't made her any promises."

I used to say I live my life a quarter mile at a time and I think that's why we were brothers- because you did, too. No matter where you are, whether it's a quarter mile away or half way across the world. The most important thing in life will always be the people in this room. Salute mi familia. You'll always be with me... And you'll always be my brother.

Finding a new career has become my latest obsession. When I take on such life-altering obsessions, I usually spend a lot of time eating comfort food and consuming things I shouldn't be. The problem is that I want to find a career that I can at least tolerate that pays well so I can provide for my family, but I can't think of a single career that interests me. At least none that are really practical, and I don't have the time right now in my life to try something impractical.